pcar964

I'm going to Sebring this Sunday for DE, would like some opinions on my rear tires. (It's a 250 mile drive to the track, then I figure about 180 miles of track abuse)

I've never used ContisportContact 2s before - They're into the wear bars already on the inside, how long before I'm at the cords? If you look carefully, it looks like there's a different shade of rubber starting to show through on the inside blocks... almost looks like a different rubber compound is starting to show through.

My thinking is, the cords won't show through until I've worn all the tread off completely and the wear bars "are no more" - can anyone set me straight on this?

Thanks in advance guys!

(First two pictures are of Left Rear, last two are of Right Rear)

Mark in Baltimore

pcar,

Looks like you have decent amount of tread. Highway running won't cause that much wear. If they were my tires, I'd run 'em 'til they corded. But I'm a cheap b*stard.

pcar964

I've been eating one meal a day so I can afford this track day, my middle name is cheap !

pcar964

Does anybody know why the rubber has changed colors like that? I know it's not heat cycles, because these tires have never been on a track.

pcar964

Anyone?

vuugti

Oooo boy, that right rear looks as though it is wearing a little more on the inside (or outside can't tell). Your alignment looks good, but the wear on the edge would make me skeptical (similar scenario). For a rally type event hell yea, track sure IF I trailered there, drive - run and drive home, ehhhhh take your chances. I wouldn't, FWIW Mark trailers....so I don't even know if we can count him!

If you can line up some skins before, I would replace them or a trailer.

Not a clue on the different colored rubber.

Good luck,
Andy

pcar964

Thanks Andy,

I hope they'll make the trip up, the treadwear on these bricks is 280, they're pretty hard. I'll take some pics at the track and also when I get back, should be interesting!

Dan V

It'll be very interesting to me since I'm going to HSDS (thunderhill) Oct. 2 with ContisportContact 2s (altho w/considerably more tread). TIA for keeping us posted on your successful DE!

Flying Finn

Depens on your driving...

It looks like there pretty good amount of thread left but then again, I once had same tyres with little more thread left and melted them totally in couple of sessions in Moroso...

911CabSteve

Check your Tech Inspection rules for treadware.. They typically have a minimum tread thickness spec to pas the tech inspection.

pcar964

Safe to say I'll be taking it considerably easier than I usually do this weekend. I'll check the tires carefully after each session, and take pictures to document their wear.

Alon

It is not uncommon for modern perforamnce tires to be made of multiple compounds that surface as the tire wears. The rubber does harden over time and is usually why older tires suffer in terms of grip as they wear. Tire manufacturers are using a softer compound that is exposed once the tire wears down beyond a certain point. This prolongs the tire's usefulness as it wears down.

pcar964

Thanks Alon, that makes sense.

The car is handling a little strangely right now, I have Pilot Sports up front which are far grippier than the rear Conti's. On the plus side, I'll have a more tail-happy car for Sebring, maybe I'll get some Flying Finn-like slides going for the photographer

(No, I don't usually run different tires front-rear, but I had a nail in one rear few months ago, and couldn't find replacement Pilots in time so went with what I could find)

TrackJunke

You should be fine. There is more meat left before the cords than you think. You can take something metal the size of a paper clip (pyrometer works great) and poke around a little in the tire tread to see if you can feel the cords and see how much you have left.

Mike in Chi

You're kidding, right?